I have not stopped having infrequent periods yet and was wondering if someone could give me some advice. I have tried to do some research, but am at a loss.
I am having very infrequent
So, I am 18 years old, I have had my period since I was 14.
so period = 4 years.
I would think that it would be normal by now, but it is not.
I am 5'7" and weigh 120-125 pounds.
I go to a university, so I do quite a bit of walking everyday, so I have exercise.
I do not eat just healthy food, but I definately watch what I eat. (i.e. don't eat much french fries, junk food, some pop but not a lot)
My period varies greatly each time I have it (one time really have and the next super light, or heavy heavy light, etc.)
just wondering if anyone has any ideas of what could be wrong with me!!! I am going crazy here.
Thanks!
2007-03-10 19:08:36 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Women's Health
The menstrual cycle depends on a balance of hormones released at the proper time and amounts. While it's normal for the pattern to be erratic the first year to 18 months after the first one appears, after 4 years your cycle should have become regular and established a pattern. It's hard to say exactly what is not happening at what time, but it is possible your weight and body fat percentage could be part of the problem. When a woman's body fat index drops below 18 %, she can experience abnormalities in her monthly cycle. It could be that, or simply a hormone imbalance. Either way, you probably would do best to make an appointment with a gynecologist for an exam and professional opinion. You might benefit from a course of birth control pills to help reset the system. The doctor could also evaluate your body fat percentage to see if that could be a factor. It's not all that unusual for a period to vary occasionally, but it shouldn't be all that different from month to month all the time. So, go see the doctor and get it all sorted out, and you will feel much better.
2007-03-10 19:35:01 · answer #1 · answered by The mom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can certainly understand your anxiety. Every woman menstruates differently. There is no right or wrong duration of a period or duration of time in between periods. As an example, I'm a 33-year-old female and I began my period at age 14, which is considered pretty late. I was "regular" (monthly) for the first year or so, but by the time I was 15, I was missing months in a row. I once missed about 88 days, if memory serves me right. My mother was very upset and worried about this, so she took me to a gynecologist, who put me on estrogen pills. I had 5 pills, but I began a period after taking only the second or third pill. Irregular periods can be a sign of a hormonal imbalance. It has been discovered that I have abnormally high testosterone, and when I took spironolactone to lower that, I began to have periods again. Some doctors believe that Polycystic Ovary Disease will cause hormonal imbalances (I don't know much about that disease). I learned that traumatic life experiences can delay menstruation, such as extreme exercise or emotional suffering/depression. After my dad died, I was completely out of whack, and I missed my period for nine full months, which was the longest of my life. I am generally healthy (except for my testosterone level), and I have usually only 3 or 4 periods a year. You could go to your student health services and ask a doctor/nurse about your irregularity if it's worrying you that much or go to a gynecologist or a reproductive endocrinologist. Since I don't know your personal history/health, and I'm not a doctor, I can't "diagnose" you; I can only offer suggestions in hopes of helping you. It shouldn't be too costly for you to see a specialist about your situation because your parents' health insurance should still cover you since you're in college. Don't sit there and torment yourself--just get some testing done and maybe have a physical examination so a doctor can rule out possibilities. Good luck. :)
2007-03-11 05:00:25 · answer #2 · answered by Gretchen 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend checking with your dr to have this evaluated to rule out things such as hormone imbalances.
2007-03-11 06:08:02 · answer #3 · answered by sokokl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out this web site
http://www.WebMD.com
free answers from licensed Doctors, you can even post a question. Good Luck
2007-03-11 04:16:01 · answer #4 · answered by Cheryl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your hormones are way out of balance, get on birth control pills , that will surely help you have more normal periods.
2007-03-11 04:13:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋